Firing a weapon on unapproved range

[Malsua 1,422]

 

One of the facebook pages I watch is the West Milford Police Department.  Mostly for road closings and whatnot since I travel through West Milford.  

They release the police blotter every month and this one caught my eye.   I guess this is the catch-all or maybe the "we gotta give you something" charge.

Firing a weapon on unapproved range
On April 7, 2019 at approximately 7:10 PM West Milford Police were alerted about someone firing a shotgun at the end of Virginia Lane. Officers responded and found a vehicle parked at the end of the cul de sac. Inside the vehicle officers observed a gun case on the back seat. Officers phoned the registered owner of the vehicle who made his way back to his vehicle through the woods. West Milford resident Cody Marienthal, 26, emerged and admitted to sighting in his weapon on property that belonged to him. Marienthal was issued a township ordinance by Officer Stephen Herzog for firing a weapon on an unapproved range.

[CMJeepster 2,778]

Might be a municipal code violation.  I think @Golf battery can educate us on this topic.

[PK90 3,570]

Here are the Ordinances for West Milford.

https://ecode360.com/WE2651

[fishnut 2,358]

Growing up I had one of those  unapproved ranges at my parents house in Lebanon NJ. A few of the local cops would shoot at our house pretty often lol. The times have changed!

[Underdog 1,593]

Couldn't just mention to the gentleman or even give an official warning that he was not allowed to sight in his firearm on his own property and that it shouldn't happen again.  

[Handyman 5,682]

West Milford is like Deliverance people. 

[JackDaWack 2,895]

They must have had a lot of issues to reqiure those standards for maintaining a private backyard range.

I'm curious if they give permits out tho... 

[Golf battery 1,223]

Yup.  In my twsp you need to get a shooting gallery permit.  Yearly renewal of 25$.  There is a no discharge of firearms ordinance in my twsp.  To get the permit the local pd comes out to inspect for safety and to see if you have an adequate back stop.  If all is clear it then gets approved by the twsp committee.  

[Underdog 1,593]

"No discharge within town" would technically mean no air guns either, right?  

[CMJeepster 2,778]

6 minutes ago, Underdog said:

"No discharge within town" would technically mean no air guns either, right?  

IANAL, but I'd say yes.

[Parker 213]

14 hours ago, Handyman said:

West Milford is like Deliverance people. 

True, but Stag Hill on the other side of RSP is Ground Zero for the Forbidden Zone.  

[siderman 1,138]

34 minutes ago, Parker said:

True, but Stag Hill on the other side of RSP is Ground Zero for the Forbidden Zone.  

remember what it was like 40-50 yrs ago?!  

[Malsua 1,422]

17 minutes ago, siderman said:

remember what it was like 40-50 yrs ago?!  

Considering this picture from the 90s.......

[Maksim 1,504]

And in America you just go out and shoot safely. 

Only need permits in some times for official gun ranges and clubs.  Not on your own land.

[anactivegrenade 25]

22 hours ago, fishnut said:

Growing up I had one of those  unapproved ranges at my parents house in Lebanon NJ. A few of the local cops would shoot at our house pretty often lol. The times have changed!

I believe that firing guns on your property in Lebanon is still GTG. I checked the ordnances recently.

[Maksim 1,504]

3 hours ago, anactivegrenade said:

I believe that firing guns on your property in Lebanon is still GTG. I checked the ordnances recently.

Isn’t there a state thing that beyond town ordinance you need to have a minimum amount of acres too?  

[Handyman 5,682]

I'm not sure if it was that or you had to be x distance from a structure...

[ChrisJM981 924]

On 5/8/2019 at 9:45 PM, Handyman said:

I'm not sure if it was that or you had to be x distance from a structure...

I think that's only for hunting. 

[JackDaWack 2,895]

As long as there are no town ordinance, you can shoot off your back porch 10ft into a berm along your property line.

Not smart idea but you can. My advice is to keep your neighbors happy if you plan on doing any backyard range time.